Ryan Grant hopes he’s the next to move from Tulane to the Saints

Tulane Green Wave wide receiver Ryan Grant (3) reaches for a pass against North Texas during the second quarter Saturday, October 6, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. (Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELD)

The senior on Friday told media at Lucas Oil Stadium — site of the NFL Scouting Combine — that he “would love to play for the Saints,” who for years have shared their Mercedes-Benz Superdome home in New Orleans with Tulane.

Not to mention Grant played his final two years in college under coach Curtis Johnson, who oversaw the Saints’ wide receivers for six seasons until he was hired by Tulane in 2012. Johnson brought with him the offense the Saints ran under coach Sean Payton.

Payton has since made former Tulane signal-caller Ryan Griffin the Saints’ No. 3 quarterback. And he recently hired ex-Tulane quarterbacks coach Mike Neu to man the same duties for the Saints.

Grant hopes he can become the latest to take his skills from the campus off St. Charles Avenue in Uptown to the Saints’ headquarters on Airline Drive in Metairie.

“It would be easy for me to just go in there and pick up the offense with ease and just gel with those guys,” the soft-spoken Grant said.

Grant had 77 catches for 1,039 yards and nine scores in 2013, helping the Green Wave reach its first bowl game since 2002. The 6-foot, 197-pounder surprised scouts at the Senior Bowl in January with his burst; and he impressed them during workouts by outplaying higher-profile receivers with his clean route-running and sure hands, NFLDraftScout.com’s Rob Rang wrote in his evaluation of Grant.

“I went into the Senior Bowl with a chip on my shoulder, and I left leaving my best on the field,” Grant said. “I think it showed for itself.”

NFL Draft Scout projects Grant will be a fourth-round pick. He said he’s been working on his 40-yard dash speed to boost his stock as much as possible, and he’s repeatedly told reporters that he aspires to emulate pros Reggie Wayne and Michael Crabtree.

Grant said he has several official interviews lined up for Friday night. Many players at the combine have said they don’t know with whom those meetings are — they’re only informed of where and when to show up.

Grant’s not shy about saying which team he hopes is among those that want to sit down with him.

“I’m familiar with a few of (the Saints’) coaches,” said Grant, who was seen speaking with New Orleans offensive assistant Carter Sheridan at the end of a Senior Bowl practice. “I wouldn’t mind staying in New Orleans and playing for the Saints.”

Grant’s words echoed those of teammate Cairo Santos, the Green Wave kicker who was the only other Tulane player invited to the combine. On Thursday, Santos — whose last name in Spanish and Portuguese translates to “Saints” — said it’d be “ideal” to play for New Orleans and at the Superdome.

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Nick Underhill began covering the Saints for The Advocate in 2014. He previously covered the New England Patriots for four seasons. He can be reached at nunderhill@theadvocate.com and is @nick_underhill on Twitter.